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First-time voters weigh in on the election

Brendon Gray | November 2

Since the last presidential election in 2012, 10.7 million young people have become eligible to vote, according to an analysis done by the Pew Research Center. While the center estimates that less than half of the Millennial citizens over 18 turned out to vote in 2012, many first-timers are taking to the polls at UNM this time around. However, those first-time voters have expressed concern about the two major-party candidates and their campaigns. “It was an interesting first-time voting experience,” said Shantell Moreno, a junior Psychology major, after leaving the early-voting station in the SUB. “With these two candidates it was like, ‘Where do I go from here?’”

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How will the outcome of Election Day affect New Mexico?

Nikole Mckibben | November 2

The presidential election results may have more of an effect on New Mexico than many may think. The candidates have polarized the major parties this election season, creating gridlock and a divided government, said Lonna Rae Atkeson, director for the Center for the Study of Voting, Elections, and Democracy. The general population sees this, and any election, as a type of sporting event, she said. People get caught up in the excitement of winning and losing.

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UNM report recommends 'more inclusive' changes to University seal

David Lynch | November 1

A report by the UNM Division for Equity and Inclusion is recommending that UNM administration consider a change to the University’s official seal, following a campaign by local groups to abolish it due to its allegedly offensive imagery. In addition to suggesting that the seal be changed with “something more inclusive, aspirational (and) honoring diversity,” the report recommends a plan be developed that allows graduating students to opt out of wearing the seal, as well as providing the opportunity to get a new diploma that doesn’t bear the image. The division compiled feedback from multiple forums that have been held in recent months to gather opinions on the seal.

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UNM working to close in on national average with faculty pay

Jon Natvig | November 1

Compared with other research institutions across the country, UNM faculty members are compensated less, and although there is no immediate solution, the University intends to continue to study and correct pay gaps with respect to national averages. According to an Office of the Provost report analyzing faculty compensation, 30 percent of UNM tenured and tenure-track faculty are paid “below the 25th percentile of the average of salaries at 76 other public research universities.”

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UNM professor: Labels don't help state, even when ranking high in crime

Megan Nyce | November 1

New Mexico has the third-highest violent crime rate and the second-highest property crime rate in the nation, according to recently released FBI crime statistics for 2015. The numbers also showed a rise in crime in Albuquerque specifically, with a 9.2 percent increase in violent crime and an 11.5 percent rise in property crime in the city. Christopher Lyons, an associate professor of sociology at UNM, said that when crime statistics are calculated, the main two categories that are examined are violence and theft.

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Social media the newest way for politicians to connect to voters

Cathy Cook | October 31

Throughout U.S. history, politicians have used different mediums to connect directly with their constituency, from Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “fireside chats” in the 1930s to the contemporary White House YouTube channel, which posts videos of the Obamas checking out science fair projects and greeting visitors, alongside videos explaining policy and political issues. To this end, presidential candidates in the 2016 election have used the ever-expanding opportunities of social media in traditional and innovative ways, said Jessica Feezell, a political science professor at UNM who focuses on American politics. Feezell said Clinton’s use of Instagram has been novel, utilizing video posts and allowing other people to post for her for a day, as she did with running mate Tim Kaine.

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Election 2016: Trump makes another stop in ABQ just nine days from election

Matthew Reisen | October 31

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump visited Albuquerque 10 days after his running mate and just nine days before the finish line, raising the energy of his campaign while also emphasizing the high stakes of this election. Inside an aircraft carrier, Trump addressed a crowd of thousands who waited patiently for his plane to arrive. “It is so great to be here in New Mexico,” the presidential candidate said as he took stage. “In nine days we are going to win this state, and we are going to take back the White House.”

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Fewer LoboAlerts means fewer crimes

Sarah Trujillo | October 30

LoboAlerts, the University’s emergency text messaging and email alert system, has only sent out a single alert to UNM students and staff this semester — a test message, on Sept. 6. Byron Piatt, emergency manager for the Center of Disaster Medicine, said the University has been fortunate this semester to not have to send out any notifications. He said between the 2015-16 academic year, LoboAlerts were issued a total of 82 times, mainly for training purposes.

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Voter's Guide: Secretary of State race

Johnny Vizcaino | October 30

On the ballot in 2016, a special election will determine who serves the remaining two years as New Mexico secretary of state after the mid-term resignation of former Secretary Dianna Duran, R-NM, last summer. Duran, reelected to office in 2014, pleaded guilty to six charges including embezzlement, and admitted to using campaign funds to fuel gambling trips to Sandia Resort and Casino during her first term. Her plea deal involved light jail time, five years probation and allowed her to keep her public pension.

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Monday on the Street: Halloween

Matthew Reisen | October 30

What is it you like and dislike about Halloween?

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Voter's Guide: 2016 presidential candidates on the issues

Brendon Gray | October 30

Where Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Gary Johnson and Jill Stein stand on the issues, according to their campaign websites. 

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Voter's Guide: Supreme Court seats

Cathy Cook | October 30

The New Mexico Supreme Court has five justices who serve eight-year terms. The current court consists of Chief Justice Charles W. Daniels, along with justices Petra Jimenez Maes, Edward L. Chavez, Barbara J. Vigil and Judith K. Nakamura. While it is up to voters to retain Vigil’s seat, Nakamura will run against Michael Vigil for her seat.

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Voter's Guide: 2016 Ballot Questions

Megan Nyce | October 30

In addition to voting on candidates in the race for president, House of Representatives and New Mexico Supreme Court, among others, voters will also see on the ballot a number of bonds, amendments and other ballot questions to provide their input on.

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Voter's Guide: U.S. House of Representatives races

Nikole Mckibben | October 30

Candidates for the House of Representatives on the issues

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Breaking down the specifics in the DOJ-UNM agreement

Cathy Cook | October 30

The biggest challenge for UNM in meeting the requirements laid out in the agreement with the Department of Justice will be ensuring all students are given in-person interactive training on sexual harassment. The agreement, which was signed on Oct. 17, requires UNM to change its policies and procedures, its trainings on sexual harassment, and its campus climate. The University is required to review its policies related to sexual harassment to make sure that sexual harassment is clearly defined and its reporting procedures are clear. Title IX Coordinator Heather Cowan said most of the required changes to the University’s policies and procedures have already been made and given to the DOJ for review.

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College Affordability Fund takes big hit, impacting students

Nichole Harwood | October 27

Along with the five percent cut to the higher education budget passed during the legislative special session, New Mexico lawmaker also took $5 million out of the $6 million in the College Affordability Fund, according to Bill Jordan, government relations officer With New Mexico Voices for Children. “New Mexico is broke and couldn't pay the overdue bills from last year,” Jordan said. “They weren't able to balance the budget this year so they had two options: they could have raised new revenue (and) new taxes or they could cut the current budget.” The legislature was left with having to balance the budget with current programs, and one of the programs to suffer a cut was the College Affordability Fund — as well as higher education.

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All students may have to get meningitis vaccine after ASUNM passes resolution

Denicia Aragon | October 27

On Wednesday evening the Associated Students of UNM passed a resolution requiring all students to receive the meningococcal meningitis vaccination, sending the legislation to the Board of Regents to be voted on and, if passed, applied at UNM. Alexander Kapp, a nursing extern in the Surgical Specialty Unit who proposed the resolution with the help of Sen. Noah Brooks, said meningococcal meningitis can be bacterial, viral or fungal, with the potential of getting into spinal fluid and inflaming the spinal cord and protective layer around the brain.

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New Mexico second-worst in unemployment countrywide

Nichole Harwood | October 26

New Mexico has been named the second-worst state in the country in terms of unemployment, at 6.7 percent. This is considerably higher than the national rate, which, in August 2015 was 5.1 percent, and now as of August of 2016 is 4.9, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor statistics. Shawn Berman, an associate professor in the Anderson School of Management, said one factor which may be affecting many states’ unemployment rates is the trend of many job positions disappearing — jobs that were once available to those without higher education that lead to employment within the middle class. “It’s a fact, and I think it’s a problem for any state that has that kind of workforce. It’s going to show up in all the statistics revolving around average wage, and unemployment,” he said. “I think this is unfortunately part of a bigger trend that is not just New Mexico.”

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Crime Briefs for Oct. 27

Elizabeth Sanchez | October 26

Crime Briefs for Oct. 27, 2016

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UNM receives grant to train Native educators

Brendon Gray | October 26

UNM is among 20 Universities and colleges across the nation that will receive the 2016 Indian Professional Development Award. The $344,325 grant comes from the U.S Department of Education and is a part of UNM’s American Indian Professional Educators’ Collaborative. AIPEC is a four-year project designed to increase the number of Native American educators in New Mexico, according to the abstract of the proposal. The grant was submitted by Dr. Christine Sims, an assistant professor in the Department of Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies. UNM will recruit 12 participants from the College of Education who will be trained, and will receive assistance in state licensing and financial support for graduation and job placement services.